The Different Types of Lemon Trees

Lemons are a versatile fruit mostly used as flavoring in food and even as a garnish for alcoholic beverages. It’s powerful citrus flavor is generally considered too strong to eat the fruit by itself which is why it finds its way into other foods as an ingredient.

Lemon trees are actually part of the evergreen family that originated in Asia and are considered a citrus tree hybrid. There are a bunch of lemon tree types that produce their own variety of lemon which its own characteristics. Below is a list of the different types of lemon trees.

Bonnie Brae

The Bonnie Brae lemon tree is most often seen in the San Diego County area. It’s most prominent characteristics are that it is seedless, is an oblong shape, and has very thin smooth skin.

Bush Lemon

The bush lemon tree can grow in extreme heat and has been known to reach a height of 10 feet or more. This thorny, brush-like tree is native to Australia, and produces lemons that are thick skinned and filled with seeds.

Eureka

Eureka lemon trees produce the fruit that is most often seen in grocery stores. Their lemons are known as the “four seasons” lemons because the Eureka tree blooms and yields fruit year round. Originating in California, the Eureka is one of the most popular and abundant varieties on landscapes.

Femminello St. Teresa

Sometimes referred to as the Sorrento, the Femminello St. Teresa lemon tree is native to Italy and produces extremely fragrant lemons that are used most often to flavor limoncello, the lemon liqueur.

Fino

Fino lemon trees are slightly thorny and are similar to Verna lemon trees. Although the Fino lemons contain less juice than Verna lemons, their juice is highly more acidic.

Jhambiri

The Jhambiri tree’s lemons are rough-skinned and bright yellow. Although the tree yields lemons with extremely sour pulp, they are popular in South Asia.

Libson

Libson lemon trees are native to Australia and yield fruit from summer until fall. The tree is covered in thorns and produces bitter lemons that have a very high seed count.

Meyer

The Meyer lemon tree grows to about 8 feet in height and produces thin-skinned round lemons that are typically more of a yellow-orange color. They are a more frost-resistant tree that can be kept indoors since they have a more compact shape.

Ponderosa

Producing very bumpy thick-skinned lemons, the Ponderosa lemon tree is considered a lemon-citron hybrid. Ponderosa lemon trees are thorny and can reach heights of 15 feet or more. They are highly frost intolerant and as such, only grow in warm or hot climates.

Variegated Pink

The Variegated Pink lemon tree grows young fruit that are green and striped. Once the fruit has matured they turn a deep yellow and have an inner pink flesh. These trees can grow as tall as 15 feet if planted outdoors, and have fragrant white blooms.

Villafranca

The Villafranca is known to yield lemons all year long. The lemons that the Villafranca lemon tree produces are low in seeds and high in quality juice.

Verna

A Spanish variety, the Verna lemon tree produces florescent yellow fruit that are large and thick-skinned. The tree itself has few thorns and usually yields fruit at least twice a year. The lemons have very few seeds and a high quantity of juice.

Yen Ben

Popular in New Zealand, the Yen Ben lemon tree yields smooth, thin-skinned fruit. It can produce fruit several times a year, but is usually harvested during fall and winter. With warm weather and maximum sunlight exposure these trees can reach heights of over 10 feet.

And there you have all of the different types of lemon trees. If I’ve forgotten any or you just want to let everyone know your favorite, go ahead and leave a comment down below. [Explore: All Different Types of Trees]

Latest Comments

Our lemon tree is over 25 years old. It is thorny, about 7′ tall, with large (2lb), very thick skinned, bright yellow, heavily seeded fruit with mildly pleasant juice. We harvest 50 to 60 late fall/early winter on the Galveston area coast. We have no clue what variety it is. Any idea?

I want to buy a lemon tree that has a powerful flavor. I live in Central Florida. I like to drink water with a lot of lemon flavor. In restaurants I may have to use two or three slices of lemon and then there is the lemon that I only need one. That is the lemon tree that I want to get. Can you tell me a name I am looking for?
I want to thank you for your time.
Ed Farrell

My lemons are small, fuzzy, lots of seeds and taste a little bitter. They smell different than a normal lemon. Almost a cross between lemon and lime bitter taste. It has lots of thorns. I live in Salisbury, NC. Can you tell me what kind of lemon tree it is. Thank you.

I am trying to buy a tree that was on our previous property but no one can identify the type of citrus tree. The tree height is about 10 feet, branches are thorny and it produces single, but abundant yellow smooth skinned fruit(more lemon than lime) and not acidic. There are many seeds and the fruit is very juicy and about one to 1 1/2 inches long. Largest production is fall. I live in Southern Calif.

I am in Southern California. I love the lemons I have seen in Sorrento Italy. I have read here that they are called Femminelo St. Teresa. Where can I buy this lemon tree and will it grow in a very large vase?

im currently in somalia. my father is a farmer and grows lemon trees. the trees are 4 years old and about 8ft tall. thorny and the lemons are thick and thin skined. also the lemons are very juicy. please if someone knows the name just reply to this comment.